SEDL / STP / STP659-EB / STP35719S

Effect of a Chemical Dispersant on Microbial Utilization of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Traxler, RW
Professor and chairman, and research associate, Plant Pathology-Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.

Bhattachatya, LS
Professor and chairman, and research associate, Plant Pathology-Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1978

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Abstract

The dispersant Corexit 9527 was found to enhance bacterial metabolism of Kuwait and South Louisiana crude oils as well as pure hydrocarbons in nonmechanically agitated seawater systems.

Oxygen depletion, measured by a modification of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) method, was used to determine the rate of substrate and mixed substrates oxidation by raw seawater populations of bacteria. This method demonstrated significantly increased oxidation of crude oil treated with dispersants. Mineralization studies, with ¹⁴C labeled hydrocarbon, substantiated the BOD results and also indicated that alkanes were metabolized prior to aromatic components in crude oils.